The Eating Disorders Coalition advances the recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority throughout the United States. There are two main avenues for addressing eating disorders policies at the federal level. The first is to incorporate eating disorders into already existing and moving initiatives. The second avenue is to help define the Congressional agenda by advocating for the drafting and introduction of new bills that improve the lives of people who are affected by eating disorders.

The EDC used this latter avenue to work with leaders in both the House and Senate to introduce the bipartisan Anna Westin Act of 2015 (H.R. 2515; S. 1865). For details about the introductions of the Anna Westin Act, please refer to the EDC’s press releases.

The Anna Westin Act, designed to have a zero or almost zero CBO score, was written to help those affected by eating disorders get the care they need by focusing on improved ﻿training ﻿and clarity of parity. In addition, the House version of the Anna Westin Act aims to promote truth in advertising and shed light on the harmful effects of altered body images in advertisements:

Training: The Anna Westin Act aims to help prevent eating disorders by using existing NIMH and SAMHSA funds to provide training for health professionals and school personnel to learn to identify eating disorders and intervene early when precursory symptoms and behaviors arise.

Clarity of Parity: The Anna Westin Act also aims to provide better treatment coverage for those affected by eating disorders by clarifying the congressional intent to include residential treatment in the implementation of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, affording the same protections as other illnesses and thereby decreasing out-of-pocket costs.

Truth in Advertising: The House bill (H.R. 2515) requires the Federal Trade Commission to study and report on whether regulation is needed for digitally altered images of people in advertising and if so, strategies to achieve regulation.

ANNA WESTI﻿N ACT PROVISIONS PASS CONGRESS and are signed into law

Provisions from the Anna Westin Act were included in comprehensive mental health reform bills, Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646) and the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 (S. 2680).HR 2646 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 422-2 in July 2016.

The eating disorders provisions passed in the 21st Century Cures Act will provide for better eating disorders treatment coverage, trainings for health professionals, and public information on eating disorders. The EDC is currently advocating for Secretary Price to begin the rulemaking process to implement the eating disorders provisions passed in the Cures Act.

​EDC also led calls to action for Senators to sign-on to aletter to leaders on the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee to request funding for the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Reform Act of 2016, inlcuding the eating disorders provisions from the Anna Westin Act, within the 21st Century Cures Act. ​

OTHER CURRENT POLICY EFFORTS

Ensuring a smooth transition during the repeal and replace of the affordable care act

Research Funding for Eating Disorders under the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP)

The EDC is concerned about eating disorders within the military and the lack of funding for eating disorders research. Nearly 30% of female cadets and 34% of active duty females score at-risk for an eating disorder across all branches of the military - with a very low number of those seeking treatment. The EDC has requested that eating disorders be eligible for research funding under the PRMRP and be considered for the Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Defense Appropriations bill.

Letters requesting eating disorders inclusion for specific Department of Defense research programs have been submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Committee on Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. Read the EDC's press release on the requests to the Committee.